No reason to tolerate killers - Dangerous dogs

TEN dog breeds are named as dangerous in the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998.

Included on that list are bull mastiffs and American pit bull terriers of “or strains and crosses thereof” like the “pitbull mastiff” that savaged a woman in Mitchelstown in Co Cork, this week. It was thought, before hospital treatment, that the woman might lose both arms but one has been saved. Hopefully the other may be too.

The wretched, unfortunate dog has been destroyed. That legislation also asserts that those named dogs may not be in a public place without being “strongly muzzled” and held on a short lead by someone over 16. This law is ignored and dangerous dogs, potential killers, can be seen every day in our suburbs, unmuzzled and threatening. Very often these powerful animals are in the charge of someone who would not be able to control it should it become extremely aggressive — the very trait these dogs are bred to display.

Well-meaning but bewildered owners of strike dogs may insist that their “Tyson is harmless and loves children” but theses dogs are bred with one objective — to be utterly destructive and to terrify anything or anyone they attack. They have no place in an urban environment and it is hard to think of even one convincing reason to tolerate them in any setting. Not only should the law be properly enforced but it should be strengthened to exclude these unfortunate animals from all public settings.